Multiple switch-board



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. MOSELEY.

MULTIPLE SWITCH BOARD. w No. 468,818. Patented Feb. 16, 1892.

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w MOSELEY 'MULTIPLE SWITCH BOARD.

Patented Feb. 16

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TVALKER MOSELEY, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, .ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTERN ELECTRIC CQMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MULTIPLE SWITCH-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,818, dated February 16, 1892.

Application filed December 26, 1888. Serial No. 294,576- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALKER MOSELEY, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at London, England, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Multiple Switch-Boards, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of telephone-exchange systems .in-which the different lines are provided each with several terminals, these terminals being grouped upon different boards and so arranged that any two lines of the exchange may be connected upon either of the switch-boards.

My invention relates more particularly to apparatus whereby when a line is once connected at one board the fact of such connection is made known to the operators at the other boards, in order that when two subscribers are connected upon one board they may not be interrupted at any other of the boards.

As to the state of the art prior to my invention reference is madeto Letters Patent No. 266,320, granted Charles E. Scribner October 24, 1882,for telephone switch-boards and pneumatic signals therefor, and Letters Patent No. 357,821, granted WVilliam S. Ford February 15, 1887, for multiple switchboard.

My invention consists in sliding bars, chaintoggles, and apparatus so arranged and connected between the different switch-boards that when a line is busy at one board the operators at other boards cannot insert their connecting-plugs to form connection with the same line. By this arrangement of apparatus I provide a mechanical test system which is not dependent upon audible or visual indications, which have heretofore been considered indispensable.

My invention is illustrated in the accoi panying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows three metallic-circuit telephone-lines, each connected with three different multiple switch-boards, with a different individual annunciator included in the circuit of each line. Fig. 2 shows three similar view of a connecting-plug inserted in a switch. 7

Like parts are indicated by similar letters and numerals of reference throughout the different figures.

Referring to Fig. 1, a represents a metallic circuit, which may be traced to the metallic sleeve 2) of the switch on the first board, and thence to the longitudinally-movable rod 0 and contact d, and thence through corresponding parts of the switch 6 of the line on the next board, and thence in the same manner through corresponding parts of the switch f on the last board, and thence through annunciator g, and thence to the insulated thimbles h 1' 7c of the switches of the line on the different boards. The other metallic circuits Z m are connected in the same manner with their respective switches on the different switch-boards. The rod 0 of the switch of line a on the first board is shown .in contact with the connection (Z of the switch. This is the normal position of the switches when the lines are not connected or in use. hen, however, a connection is made with a line, as shown at switch 17., board 2, the longitudinally-movable rod 0 is separated from its normal contact (1'.

The chain -toggle connection 0 extends across the switch-boards and is supported by guides oon the differentboards. The chaintoggle 0 belongs to the linem, and the guides or rollers 0' are placed, respectively, on the different longitudinally-movable rods of the switches of said line. The stops 0 0 are fixed.v Therefore, when a rod, as c, is moved to the position shown, as is necessary when connection is made with the line, the guide 0 of the sliding rod thus moved is forced against the chain-toggle between the stops 0 0 thus taking up all the slack in the chaintoggle 0, the chain-toggle thus being drawn taut. It is now impossible to make connection with the same line at any other of the boards. If such connection were attempted, it would be found that the longitudinallymovable rod of the switch of the line could not be moved far enough to admit of the attempted connection. Thus suppose an attempt were made to connect with line m at switch 19 of board 1 the construction of the connecting-plug is such that in order to make a connection with any switch the sliding bar thereof must be moved, as shown at switch a. On attempting to move the sliding bar of switch 1) the guide 0,"carried upon the sliding bar of switch 19, would be obstructed by the taut chain-toggle 0. The switchman on making attempt and finding the movement of the sliding rod obstructed would know that the line was busy. This is essentially the mode of operation of my testing apparatus herein described and claimed.

I will now describe somewhat more in detail the different forms of the switch and the form of the connecting-plug illustrated herein, it being, however, understood that the form of the switch, as well as that of the plug, might be modified in various ways without departing from my invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, each switch-as, for eX- ample, switch nconsists of a movable part c, which I have termed the sliding rod, a contact-point cl, a spring 19, tending to hold said movable rod against the contact-point cl. The rod 0' is supported by the metallic sleeves or sockets 19 19 on the different sides, respectively, of the switch-board. (For detailed section of front socket 13 see Fig. 5.) The sleeves 19 p are thus electrically connected whatever may be the position of the rod 0'. The contact d is placed at the rear of the board and is readily accessible. The thimble p is insulated from the socket 19 as shown in Fig. 5. The different connectingplugs are each provided with two terminals, the tip or central terminal being adapted to be inserted in the socket p to move the sliding bar 0 to the position shown. The outer terminal 19 of the plug is adapted to be locked to the thimble p, as shown, so that the plug when inserted may be held in place against the pressure of spring 19'. I preferably use a bayonet-lock between the thimble p and the terminal 19 of the plug. Any other form of locking device capable of doing the work might, however, be employed.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a single-circuit breaking and closing device in each line in stead of a separate device for doing this work in connection with each switch of each line. These circuit-closing devices q q (illustrated in Fig. 2) are connected, respectively, with the chain-toggle devices 0" 0" r Vhen a plug is inserted in a switch of any line upon either board, the chain-toggle device, cord, or wire, as r, r, or T is operated to open the key phone-lines wit-h the subscribers stations;

neither have I deemed it necessary to illustrate or describe the operators outfits in detail. It will be understood, however, that each line includes one or more subscribers stations. It willbe also understood that an operator is placed at each board and provlded with pairs of plugs and cords adapted to be connected with her telephone outfit and to loop the different lines together. The lndl vidual annunciators will be distributed upon the different switch-boards and suitable signaling apparatus provided, all in the usual manner.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. The combination,with two or more switchboards with which telephone-lines are connected, of'ehain-toggle devices, one for each of the telephone-lines, each of said chaintoggle devices being drawn taut by the insertion of a plug in any switch of the line corresponding thereto to lock the other switches of said line on the other boards out of employment, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A chain-toggle device extending across each of the two or more multiple switch-boards and being attached or supported upon the movable part of a switch of each of said boards, in combination with the two or more multiple switch-boards and a connecting device or plug which on being inserted in either of said switches forces the movable part of the switch in which it is inserted against the chain-toggle joint, thereby changing the tension of said chain-toggle device and obstructing the movement of the movable parts of said other switches, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A telephoneline connected with several switches, each on a different switch-board, said line including an individual annunciator placed between different sockets or guides, as 19 p of the switch on the last board, the movable parts of the switches of the line being mechanically connected, in combination with a loop-plu g inserted in one of said switches to open the connection of the line with the annunciator, while at the same time the other switches of the line are obstructed to prevent any other connection with the line, substantialiy as and for the purpose specified.

4. The switch consisting of the sliding bar, with metallic sockets or guides therefor, one on each side of the board, in combination with In witness whereof Ihereunto subscribe my name this 3d day of December, A. D. 1888.

WALKER Mo'sELEY.

the insulated thimble on the face of the board around the front socket or guide, one branch of a line connected with the rear socket and the other branch connected with the thimble, and a loop-plug inserted in said switch to form connection with the said sliding bar and thiinble, as described.

Witnesses:

I. E. KINGSBURY, J. W. SPENCER. 

